A comparison between companies' implementation of Six Sigma and ISO 13053 requirements: a first investigation from Europe

Abstract

Six Sigma is a well-consolidated model used by thousands of companies around the world and has a particular organisation built on the define-measure-analyse-improve-control methodology. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2011 issued a standard named ISO 13053 with the aim of standardising Six Sigma implementation. This research reviews, for the first time, the differences between the requirements of ISO 13053 and the actual practices followed by a sample of 107 European large companies when implementing Six Sigma. The results are also interesting because they reveal the state-of-the-art of Six Sigma organisation inside companies. It seems that companies have started measuring and classifying Six Sigma savings not just using the cost of poor quality. Furthermore, there are different points of view about how long the training for Master, Black, Green and Yellow Belts should be. Even, how long a Six Sigma project should last is not clear. Lastly, the research highlights how it is important to apply some Lean production tools.

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